Flexible material flooring miter device and system for flexible material flooring installation

ABSTRACT

A device and method for the proper installation of flexible flooring such as sheet flooring and more particularly the formation of flash coving and proper installation thereof comprising two complementary portions of a guide tool of proper angles and straightedges required to form mitered corner formation and installation.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of flexibleflooring installation. More specifically, the present invention relatesto a device and method for the proper installation of flexible flooringsuch as sheet flooring and more particularly the formation of flashcoving and proper installation thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Flexible flooring is commonly utilized as flooring cover in residentialand commercial building. Depending on the intended use of a residentialor commercial facility, various flooring options are available to theconsumer. For example, residential and commercial linoleum, sheet vinylfloor coverings, glue down carpet products and other carpet productsincluding rubber or vinyl backed carpets are commonly utilized in theart.

In fact, the desire to provide floor coverings exhibiting a hard,relatively waterproof surface for shielding the foundations andsupporting structures from the daily grind of activities commonplace inthe home is long ingrained in our culture. Primitive floor coveringsincluded tampered earth mixed with oxblood which dried to a hard,easily-swept surface. Such floor coverings gave way to the introductionof floor cloths (common rudimentary squares of various cloth substances)in the eighteenth century. Floor cloths were primarily utilized indining areas and were placed under dining room tables to catch crumbsrather than exposing the crumbs to the unprotected wood floors providingstructural support to the domicile. Virtually after every meal, thefloor cloths were removed and any debris was transported outside of thedomicile as the cloths were shaken to loosen and remove the crumbs fromthe previous meal.

Over time, the floor cloths were improved upon, and in the earlyeighteenth century, floor cloths were soon loomed from sturdy coatedfabrics. It became commonplace for floor cloths to be manufactured fromcanvas, hemp, and linen coated with oils or paints providing a virtuallywater-proof surface. These “oilcloths” were easily made at home and soonmass produced.

Mass produced oilcloths gave rise to the advent of a product nowcommonly called linoleum. Early linoleum was manufactured from linseedoil, cork gums, and pigment and was designed to exhibit a leather-liketexture. Linoleum remained popular into the 1900's as a long-lastingfloor covering and soon various floor covering alternatives emerged,including vinyl flooring which exhibited vibrant printed colors moldedwith a clear vinyl product.

Today, vinyl floor coverings are the prominent floor covering in bothresidential and commercial applications. Various individual products areknown in the art such as residential rotogravure sheet flooring,residential interflex flooring, residential linoleum sheet flooring,residential dry-back tile, commercial linoleum sheet flooring,heterogeneous commercial sheet flooring, heterogeneous commercial tileflooring, homogeneous commercial sheet flooring, homogeneous commercialtile flooring, commercial felt-backed sheet flooring, commercial inlaidsheet flooring, commercial luxury solid vinyl flooring, commercial vinylcomposition tile, commercial slip-retardant sheet flooring, andcommercial vinyl composition slip-retardant tile, just to name a few.Various manufacturers, including current manufacturers such as ArmstrongWorld Industries, Inc.'s Floor Products unit and Congoleum Corporation,market various products for the aforementioned floor coveringscategories under various trademarked names. For example, Armstrong WorldIndustries, Inc.'s commercial linoleum sheet flooring line includescurrent products marketed under the names: Marmorette®, Granette®, UniWalton®, Colorette®, Linorette®, Linodur®. Similarly, Armstrong WorldIndustries, Inc.'s commercial solid vinyl sheet flooring line includescurrent products marketed under the names: Natural Creations® andNatural Options®.

Each of the aforementioned products are manufactured from various commonraw materials. For example, the primary components of the aforementionedvinyl floor coverings include polyvinyl chloride (or vinyl) resins,plasticizers (high molecular-weight solvents), pigments and tracestabilizers, and a carrier sheet or backing. The backing is generallymanufactured of felt or highly filled paper made from wood pulp andcalcium carbonate. High-gloss surface vinyl sheets or vinyl tiles havean additional polyurethane coating applied at the end of the process.

In general, the manufacture of vinyl floor coverings involves a seriesof physical alternations to the various aforementioned raw materials.First, vinyl resins and plasticizers are mixed, creating a slurrycommonly referred to as plastisol. A compound consisting of two nitrogenatoms which are united at both ends to separate carbon atoms is added tothe base slurry. When the resins, plasticizers, and nitrogen compound isheated, the nitrogen compound decomposes forming nitrogen gas bubblesresulting in a vinyl foam. This foam-based slurry is transferred andspread onto the installation medium or backing. The slurry is placed onthe felt or wood pulp backing via a reverse roll coater and adhered viaheat application creating a vinyl gel whereby the vinyl resin absorbsthe plasticizer. The gel is transferred through a printing press and isimpressed, when desired, with metal intaglio plates for creating thecarved decorative patterns. A second mixing of plasticizer and vinyl areapplied to the printed gel and is transferred through a second heatingsystem resulting in a clear vinyl known as wear layer. This top layer isdesigned as a protective portion to safeguard the decorative portion ofthe product. Once the wear layer is adhered, various finishes areapplied with consistent thickness and the product is cured. Further, anadhesive layer may be affixed thereto.

Once manufactured and shipped, the floor covering is ready forinstallation. Depending on the desired size of installation, floorcovering utilized, and various other parameters, basic installation iscommon to the various aforementioned sheet flooring products.

First, the subfloor must be prepared including the removal of anyabrasive portions, removal of obstructions, grading of the flooring, thepreparation of underlayments, sealing and/or patching of varioussubfloors, etc. Next the various adhesives are applied and the layoutand fitting of the flooring is established.

Once the flooring is installed and fitted, the seams are addressed,often requiring difficult pattern matching of the various flooringproducts. Once the patterns are matched, seam cutting must be performed.Those of skill in the art will readily recognize that seam cutting isone of the most difficult aspects of sheet flooring installationespecially since it is relatively impossible to repair a mis-cut on aseam compared to other fitted regions.

There are three common methods for cutting seams. These includedouble-cut, recess scribed or underscribe, and straightedge and butt.Double-cut seams are generally used on heterogeneous and felt-backedmaterials—generally materials which can be cut through two layers withone cut. With a first piece installed and secured, a second piece ispattern matched, and a straightedge cut is made through both pieces offloor covering.

In contrast, recess scribe or underscribe seams are recommended forheavier materials. To perform this type of edge, a first piece is fit inplace and straight-edged with a knife. A second piece is overlaid and arecess scriber is set to follow the straight-edged first piece to markthe desired cut. A straightedge knife is utilized to complete the cutalong the scribed portion.

The final common cut is the straightedge and butt seam. This seamapplication is only utilized with certain products and requires alignedpatterns of joined flooring which are cut in two distinct passes.

Once the seams are cut, seam coating products are utilized to virtuallyhide the seams in the materials from common view. In most instances, theseams are further heat welded to provide for a protected,water-resistant seam.

In many instances, the flooring installation is complete at this point.However, additional installation such as flash coving is required innumerous applications. Specifically, in many industrial and commercialinstitutions, flash coving is required. While many of skill in the artfind seams to be a difficult application, flash coving is viewed as thespecialty skill that separates a good installer from a great installer.The extensive steps and difficulty of each step with little room forerror makes the preparation of flash coving one of the most difficultaspects of installing flexible flooring.

Advancements in utility knifes, scribe knifes, hook blade knifes,rollers, straightedge tools and the like have made various portions ofinstalling sheet flooring easier. However, while numerous inventions andadvancements in the art have evolved to assist in the installation ofsheet and tile flooring, few inventions have aided an installer with theflash coving aspect of flexible flooring installation.

The need for a device for aiding in the installation of flash covingwill be readily apparent based on a review of several disclosures in theart. For example, various flexible flooring cutting tools developed inthe art include Prater U.S. Pat. No. 3,395,453 entitled “Carpet Cutter,”Matsushita U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,936 entitled “Carpet Cutter,” BaughmanU.S. Pat. No. 4,817,290 entitled “Trimming Tool,” Hyer et. al U.S. Pat.No. 6,112,417 entitled “Precision Vinyl & Carpet Trimmer,” and Tayloret. al U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,410 entitled “Wall Trimmer for Carpet andVinyl Floor Coverings.”

The carpet cutters disclosed by Prater U.S. Pat. No. 3,395,453 (depictedas FIG. 1A PRIOR ART in the present disclosure), Matsushita U.S. Pat.No. 4,001,936 (depicted as FIG. 1B PRIOR ART in the present disclosure),and Baughman U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,290 (depicted as FIG. 1C PRIOR ART inthe present disclosure) are each designed to address the excess materialat the intersection of a wall and a floor evident in the installation ofprimarily cushion-backed carpets. Each cutter is designed with aplurality of blades positioned to cut the excess material within closeproximity to the wall thereby allowing for a relatively precision cut ofthe carpet material.

An improvement to the aforementioned cutters includes Hyer et. al U.S.Pat. No. 6,112,417. While Prater, Matsushita, and Baughman are directedto carpet cutting instruments, the Hyer et al. invention is directed toa device for cutting carpets and vinyl flooring products. Hyer et al.(depicted as FIG. 1D PRIOR ART in the present disclosure) discloses a“hand operated trimmer for trimming an edge of vinyl, carpet or the likebeing installed on a floor so that the cut edge of the floor coveringwill lie closely against an adjacent wall. The trimmer comprises anelongated base member and an integral cutting blade” wherein the basemember is manufactured in a generally triangularly shape whereby themembers of the base form a right angle and pressure applying rollers areemployed for securing the flooring during cutting. The Hyer et al.disclosure further overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art byfurthers providing a handle allowing the user to place sufficientpressure on the device to further secure the material to be cut.

Continuing with the advancements in the art of installing flexibleflooring, Taylor et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,410 (depicted as FIG. 1EPRIOR ART in the present disclosure) further discloses an improvedtrimmer tool. In particular, Taylor et al.'s tool is designed to be usedin both directions along walls, and may be used right or left handed.

A further improvement in the art is directed to a linoleum trimmingtool. Specifically, Fortin U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,795 (depicted as FIG. 1FPRIOR ART in the present disclosure) is entitled “Precision linoleumedge trimming tool.” Fortin discloses a trimming tool designed fortrimming edge portions of linoleum to fit against a bordering wall. Thetool exhibits a downwardly opening throat, extending lengthwise andprotruding therethrough each end. The throat is designed of sufficientdimension “to enable an edge portion of the thickest and stiffestlinoleum to be entered in and pass through the throat and be heldupwardly curved against the outer wall of the throat as the tool isadvanced along the wall with spaced edge portions in engagement with thewall at its junction with the floor or a covering thereon and disposedto hold the front of the tool out of contact with the wall or abaseboard.” Fortin further discloses “[t]he tool has a holder for ablade exposed in the throat in the trailing end and disposed to severthe edge portion against the outer or front wall of the throat as thetool is advanced.”

As disclosed, the Fortin tool is primarily designed for easily trimmingand making cuts in linoleum at points of intersection at a wall duringinstallation. The Fortin tool is an elaborate device including a seriesof adjustments and a cutting edge with the singular purpose of cuttinglinoleum.

Recognizing the inherent flaw in providing a device with the singlepurpose of cutting linoleum, Fortin obtained an independent secondpatent for a flexible wall trimming device. Specifically, Fortin U.S.Pat. No. 5,450,672 is directed to a second flexible material walltrimming tool designed for trimming flexible or soft flooring materialsand wall covering cove materials at the intersection of a floor andwall. As disclosed, the Fortin device “is adapted for cutting softresidential linoleum and sheet vinyl floor coverings, glue down carpetsand other soft carpet materials including carpets with rubber or vinylbacking and carpet tiles, and wall covering materials such as vinyl orrubber cove material covering the baseboard area of a wall. The manualtrimmer “is adjustable to provide the desired tightness of fit and tomatch a flexible floor covering and wall cove covering with a desiredtrim fit at the floor/wall intersection.”

While Fortin, like the aforementioned disclosures, attempted to improvethe cutting tools common in the art for cutting flexible flooring at theintersection of a wall, Fortin failed to provide an improved tool foraddressing various additional aspects related to the installation offlexible flooring. Specifically, Fortin's inventions and the otheraforementioned inventions, fail to provide any means to assist in theinstallation of flash coving common in many installations.

While the aforementioned inventions are directed to improved cuttingdevices, other disclosures in the art are directed to other aspects offlexible flooring installation. For example, systems for improved seamsealing and heat welding are known in the art. Additional disclosuresare directed to the installation of custom insets in flexible flooring.Further inventions in the art are directed to guide tools for makingprecisions cuts. One of these disclosures includes Terhorst U.S. Pat.No. 5,485,676 entitled Carpet Cutting Knife Guide. Terhorst (depicted asFIG. 1G PRIOR ART in the present disclosure) is directed to an improvedsystem for making accurate straightedge cuts by providing a knife guidefor cutting overlapping adjacent edges of two pieces of carpet to belaid adjacently on a floor. The guide disclosed by Terhorst includes twolateral members, a platform member exhibiting “an opening through whichat least a blade of a carpet cutting knife member can pass to thereafterbe positioned substantially at the floor. The opening has in conjunctiontherewith at least one friction fit means whereby a portion of the knifemember can be releasably retained.” The Terhorst system further includeswheels for “manually moving the guide over the overlapping edges of thecarpet to be cut.” Thus, the Terhorst system guides the cutting knife topermit an operator to efficiently and precisely cut overlapping edges ofthe carpet. While the Terhorst system is designed to properly cut carpet(and arguably other flexible flooring), the system fails to provide asystem or method for aiding an installer in creating flash coving.

While the aforementioned inventions are directed to various improvementsin the art for installing flexible flooring, each invention fails toprovide an improved system and method for installing flash coving andcreating precision flash coving seams. In contrast to the aforementioneddisclosures, Stanbery et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,351 addresses animproved apparatus directed to assisting an installer with a flashcoving installation. Specifically, Stanbery et al. (depicted as FIG. 1HPRIOR ART in the present disclosure) is directed to a “hand-operatedcutter of flooring material characterized by a substantially rectangularbase supported by three cylindrical roller wheels, a pair of guide postsrising from a upper surface of the base, a cutter plate adjustablyattached to the guide posts, and a pair of razor blades angularlyclamped to opposing ends of the cutter plate. The device also includescove forming mechanism including a pair of separated, half-sphericalwheels adapted to urge the flooring material into the juncture betweenthe floor and wall surfaces. The height of the cutter plate above thebase is adjustable to cut the flooring material at a user selectableheight above the floor.” Clearly, the Stanbery et al. device is adaptedto cut the portion of flexible material at the top edge of the flashcoving. While arguably a useful development in the art, this devicefails to aid an installer in creating miter joints of the flash covingat the intersection of the wall and floor

Recognizing the failure of an improved apparatus and method forinstalling flash coving in flexible flooring installations, the presentdisclosure is directed to assist an installer create flash coving inflexible flooring installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known and variousflexible flooring installation systems and devices now disclosed in theprior art, in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, provided is a flash coving installation guide devicefor aiding an installer to make proper flash coving cuts and seams. Morespecifically, the first preferred embodiment is designed to be utilizedto control and ultimately eliminate extensive damage to products andinjuries to installers common with creating flash coving in flooringdevices.

The primary purpose of the present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a first preferredembodiment concerning a guide tool for concise and proper cuts inflexible flooring to allow for the creation of proper seams in flashcoving. The present invention is directed to a trim corner guidemanufactured in a first right hand trim corner guide and a second lefthand trim corner device. The devices are manufactured of sufficientmaterial to act as a guide for a utility knife while cutting flexibleflooring and are of sufficient thickness to allow the knife to extendbeyond the guide.

The hand-operated left hand trim corner guide is manufactured from asingle piece of sturdy plastic material and is composed of a lower basehaving an upper surface and an underside adapted for contact with aflooring surface integrated with a curved cove forming portion angled toform an approximate ninety degree angle adapted to press the flooringsurface into the subfloor and wall at or about an inside or outsidecorner. Due to inconsistencies in construction, in the preferredembodiment, this angle is increased to roughly ninety-five degrees as toallow the user to apply sufficient pressure to bend the guide to theapproximate wall/floor angle and securely hold guide in place. Thecurved cove forming portion is further integrated with an upper portionof sufficient height to press flooring material against wall. Furtherintegrated with the guide are guide post members allowing the installerto hold the guide in place and apply pressure to guide as to minimizemovement of the guide during the cutting process. The left portion ofguide is generally manufactured as a straight-edge while the right miteredge portion of guide is manufactured at a forty-five degree angle toallow for an angled miter cut at intersection of flooring material so asto create an aligned seam when installing flash coving.

The right hand trim corner guide is manufactured of generallymirrored-image dimensions so as to mate with left hand trim cornerguide. Specifically, The right portion of right hand trim corner guideis generally manufactured as a straight-edge while the left miter edgeportion of right hand trim corner guide is manufactured at a forty-fivedegree angle to allow for an angled miter cut at intersection offlooring material so as to create an aligned seam when installing flashcoving. Thus, when left hand trim corner guide and right hand trimcorner guide are aligned at respective miter edge portion, the twoguides mate to form an outside ninety degree corner.

Thus, there has been summarized and outlined, generally in broad form, aplurality of the most important features of the present invention, asdescribed with respect to the foregoing preferred and alternateembodiments, in order that the following detailed description thereofwhich follows may be better understood by one of ordinary skill in theart. This summary and outline is further presented so that the noveltyof the present contribution to the related art may be betterappreciated. It will further be apparent that additional features of theinvention described hereinafter and which will form the subject matterof the claims appended hereto will further define the scope, novelty,and in certain instances the improvements upon any existing art.

Further, it is to be readily understood that the invention presentedherein is not limited in its application to the details of constructionand to the arrangements of the components set forth in the followingdescription or illustrated in the various figures integrated andcategorized herein. The scope of the disclosure is presented in broadform so that other objects, features, and characteristics of the presentinvention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of therelated elements of the structure, and the combination of parts andeconomies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon considerationof the following detailed description.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosure of thepresent invention may readily be utilized as a basis for the designingof other similar structures, methods and systems for carrying out thevarious purposes and objectives of the present invention. Thus, theclaims as set forth shall allow for such equivalent constructionsinsofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention as described herein.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a systemand method for providing accurate mitered cuts for the installation offlexible flooring.

One further object of the present invention is to provide a system andmethod which provides for a safe means for installing flash coving andallows for accurate cuts in flexible flooring while preventing utilityknife slippage so as to reduce the likelihood of user injury.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system andmethod that is simple to manufacture yet highly effective in the art

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the present invention and the objectivesother than those set forth above can be obtained by reference to thevarious embodiments set forth in the illustrations of the accompanyingfigures. Although the illustrated embodiment is merely exemplary ofsystems for carrying out the present invention, both the organizationand method of operation of the invention, in general, together withfurther objectives and advantages thereof, may be more easily understoodby reference to the drawings and the following description. The figuresare not intended to limit the scope of this invention, which is setforth with particularity in the claims as appended or as subsequentlyamended, but merely to clarify and exemplify the invention. The detaileddescription makes reference to the accompanying figures wherein:

FIG. 1A (PRIOR ART) depicts a side view schematic of the Prater U.S.Pat. No. 3,395,453 prior art entitled “Carpet Cutter” illustrating themanner in which the trimmer serves the upwardly turned edge of thecushion back carpet along a wall to produce a squared edge carpet tobutt snugly against a wall.

FIG. 1B (PRIOR ART) depicts a perspective view of the Matsushita U.S.Pat. No. 4,001,936 prior art entitled “Carpet Cutter” wherein theMatsushita system is designed to cut any excess edges of a carpet at itsbend toward the wall to the size of a room after it has been laid in theroom.

FIG. 1C (PRIOR ART) depicts a schematic of the Baughman U.S. Pat. No.4,817,290 prior art entitled “Trimming Tool” wherein a trimming toolhaving an adjustable blade that can be used to trim carpeting, wallpaperand similar linear materials is detailed.

FIG. 1D (PRIOR ART) depicts a schematic of the Heyer et al. U.S. Pat.No. 6,112,417 prior art entitled “Precision Vinyl & Carpet Trimmer”exhibiting a perspective view of the device “with this view revealing anelongated base member having a generally triangularly-shaped crosssection, with two of the elongate external surfaces of the base membermeeting essentially at a right angle and adapted to be moved along thefloor-wall intersection, with this device also having a concave frontsurface along which a sheet of vinyl or other floor covering can passlongitudinally, with this view also revealing a handle to be grasped bythe vinyl installer, and pressure-applying rollers provided formaintaining a sheet of vinyl in close contact with the concave surface,so that the operatively mounted blade can cut the vinyl.”

FIG. 1E (PRIOR ART) is a schematic of the Taylor et al. U.S. Pat. No.6,230,410 prior art entitled “Wall Trimmer for Carpet & VinylFloorcoverings” prior art depicting a perspective view of the cuttingtool designed for cutting floor coverings near walls wherein “[i]n itssimplest form, the wall trimmer comprises a generally planar base plateadapted to be slid on floor coverings. A handle assembly is attached tosaid base plate for moving said wall trimmer along a path. The devicefurther includes a blade guide assembly retaining a pair of blades, anda mounting assembly for mounting said blade guide assembly on said baseplate.”

FIG. 1F (PRIOR ART) is a schematic of the Fortin U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,795prior art entitled “Precision Linoleum Edge Trimming Tool” prior artdepicting the front view of the trimming tool for cutting the heaviestand stiffest linoleum as well as the more flexible, lighter linoleumlengths and carpeting.

FIG. 1G (PRIOR ART) is a schematic of the Terhorst U.S. Pat. No.5,485,676 prior art entitled “Carpet Cutting Knife Guide” prior artdepicting the perspective view of the knife guide for cuttingoverlapping adjacent edges of two pieces of carpet to be laid adjacentlyon a floor.

FIG. 1H (PRIOR ART) is a schematic of the Stanbery et al. U.S. Pat. No.4,549,351 prior art entitled “Coving Cutter Assembly” prior artdepicting the perspective view of the coving cutter assembly for cuttinga flexible covering material to form a cove over the juncture of asubstantially horizontal floor surface and a substantially vertical wallsurface.

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention wherein provided is miter corner guide system utilized inflexible sheet flooring installation.

FIG. 3A is frontal perspective view of a left trim corner guidedisclosed as the preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizedin flexible sheet flooring installation.

FIG. 3B is top perspective view of a left trim corner guide disclosed asthe preferred embodiment of the present invention utilized in flexiblesheet flooring installation.

FIG. 3C is side perspective view of a left trim corner guide disclosedas the preferred embodiment of the present invention utilized inflexible sheet flooring installation.

FIG. 4A is frontal perspective view of a right trim corner guidedisclosed as the preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizedin flexible sheet flooring installation.

FIG. 4B is top perspective view of a right trim corner guide disclosedas the preferred embodiment of the present invention utilized inflexible sheet flooring installation.

FIG. 4C is side perspective view of a right trim corner guide disclosedas the preferred embodiment of the present invention utilized inflexible sheet flooring installation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A detailed illustrative embodiment of the present invention is disclosedherein. However, techniques, systems and operating structures inaccordance with the present invention may be embodied in a wide varietyof forms and modes, some of which may be quite different from those inthe disclosed embodiment. Consequently, the specific structural andfunctional details disclosed herein are merely representative, yet inthat regard, they are deemed to afford the best embodiment for purposesof disclosure and to provide a basis for the claims herein which definethe scope of the present invention. The following presents a detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment (as well as some alternativeembodiments) of the present invention.

Moreover, well known methods, procedures, and substances for bothcarrying out the objectives of the present invention and illustratingthe preferred embodiment are incorporated herein but have not beendescribed in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure novel aspects of thepresent invention.

The method for installing sheet flooring flash coving is complex andhighly dependent on the skill of the craftsman as much of theinstallation requires free-hand forming of the material. Specifically, acraftsman must free hand many of the cuts that are ultimately fused tocreate seams that must be relatively hidden after they are joinedresulting in a “seamless” presentation.

While flash coving may be installed by various craftsmen in generallydifferent manners, the most common system for installing flash covedsheet flooring recommended by Armstrong World Industries, Inc. isexpressed herein in reference to the use of the present invention. (SeeArmstrong, Guaranteed Installation Systems 2006/2007; AWI, 2006).However, while various craftsmen may install the flooring in differentmanners and rely on individual expertise, it will be evident to those ofordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be utilized forall methods of flash coving installation known in the art as well asmodified methods of the future.

Thus, in order to install flash coving, the floor must be properlyprepared and the cap strip and cove stick must be installed. With theseinstallations in place, the scribing felt pattern can be set.Particularly, the craftsmen must cut in the scribing felt or guide paperto the edges of the cove stick. Once cut, the edges of the scribing feltare butted together and secured to the floor.

At this point of installation it is recommended that two templates arecreated from either scrap material or other similar material. The firsttemplate is created in a “T” structure, exhibiting approximately eightinches in height and six inches in width on the upper portion of the “T”and two inches in width on the base portion of the “T”. The secondtemplate, created from the same material, is in a triangular form withlegs of four inches. At the right angle of the triangle, a protrudingportion of one and one half inch radius for the cove base is formed. Toform this second template, the craftsman must first draw a four inchsquare on the scrap material and connect two opposing corners with adiagonal line. At one corner, extend the diagonal line one inch beyondthe corner. To mark the point on the template, set the dividers usingthe same radius as the cove stick and swing arcs touching the edge ofthe square piece and the diagonal intersecting line. This point of thetemplate will allow the user to mark the inside corners. While this islikely the most common dimensions for each template, modification tosize may be apparent depending on the desired height of the cove stickand other installation factors.

With the templates created, the first template is placed in the insidecorner and under the cap strip. Pressed firmly into the cove stick, thecraftsman utilizes the template to trace around the portion of thetemplate interacting with the felt paper. This step is repeated on thealternate side of the inside corner. It is further recommended that whenmarking the inside corners, an allowance is made for one piece ofmaterial fitting against the other by inserting a scrap piece betweenthe wall and the template. In addition, it is typical in the art to makethe allowance on the side of the inside corner that is fitted last.Continuing with the first template, the craftsman marks at variousdistances the height of the cap strip at several places along the wall.

An overhang is provided on the side opposite where the fill piece willbe fit. Along the wall where the fill piece will be placed, astraightedge line is placed on the felt paper a predetermined distancefrom the wall in a direction parallel to the wall. A second line isdrawn by the craftsman extending at a forty-five degree angle from theoutside corner miter of the cove stick. With all lines scribed onto thescribing felt, crosslines are etched at the seams for reference.

With the pattern complete, the lines are transferred from the scribingfelt onto the material, where necessary the angle marks and other marksare connected with a straightedge, the forty-five degree angle cut isextended approximately three inches, and the flooring material isprepared for cutting. Since the cutting stage requires the most skillin, the field, the scribe marks must be relatively accurate to providefor a “seamless” installation. In certain portions, stop cuts, parallelto the scribes, to prevent material tearing and safety cuts to preventthe knife from sliding and injuring the craftsmen are created. Portionsare also taped at stress points to further prevent tears.

Once cut, spread adhesive is applied on the floor to act as a securingmeans to integrate flooring material with floor. Once the cut flooringmaterial is placed in the room, certain portions are seated and theflooring material is placed gently into the corners. After the seatingthe flooring material and tucking the corners, flooring material isinserted under the cap strip staring at the center portions of thewalls. To assist in the installation under the cap strip, a heating gunmay be utilized to alter the pliability of the flooring material andprevent damage to the flooring material. To secure the material inplace, the flooring material is also seated utilizing a roller.

The next step in anchoring flash coved sheet flooring material, and mostrelevant step to the use of the present invention, is the formation andinstallation of the mitered outside corner. Finishing the outside corneris typically completed roughly by hand by each craftsman and the qualityof each corner seam is highly dependent on the skill of the installer.Further, damage at the outside corner may result in substantial repairtime and material costs to mend or reconstruct the portion of damagedmaterial.

The first step for constructing and finishing a mitered outside cornerrequires a craftsman to position a recess scriber at an outside cornerto mark the section extending beyond the corner. To avoid damage to thematerial, a protective piece of scrap material is utilized as a guidefor the knob of the scriber to ride against the wall. This use of scrapmaterial also provides for an allowance for the fill piece to miter tothe portion being marked. The second step requires a craftsman to createa second scribe at the vertical section to the top of the cove stick.

Again, utilizing the first template previously prepared, the third stepin finishing the corner requires a craftsman to position the templatealong the forty-five degree line on the flooring material and curve thetemplate upwards along the radius of the cove stick to the verticalscribe line and etch a guide line along the edge of the template.According to the fourth step, positioning a knife at a forty-five degreeangle to the corner, a craftsman free hands a cut from the top verticalscribe to along the miter of the cove stick to the bottom portion of thecove stick. Remove the scrap material created from the cutting areawithout cutting the portion in contact with the floor as this portion,with the fill piece in position, will be double cut to provide a properseam.

The aforementioned fill piece created in an “L” shape as step five iscreated by an installer utilizing free hand cuts. With the fill pieceformed and heated, it can be positioned within the material void toallow the craftsman to utilize the recess scribe set for an outsidescribe to scribe the vertical section from the top of the cove stick.

Again, positioning the first template along the forty-five degree lineon the flooring material, the seventh step of installation, requires thecraftsman to scribe the vertical portion of the fill piece up the radiusof the cove stick until the scribe intersects the bottom of the scribeline previously created. Next (the eight step of installation),positioning a free hand knife at a forty-five degree angle to thecorner, the craftsman cuts downwards from the top of the scribe linealong the miter near the cove stick. Again the scrap is removed from thelocation without cutting the portion closest to the floor as thisportion will serve as the upper material of the aforementioned doublecut.

The ninth step of installation requires the removal of the fill pieceand the application of adhesive material thereto. The fill piece issubsequently heated, placed within the void portion, and rolled intoplace. The aforementioned double cut through the first layer of flooringmaterial from the bottom of the cove stick to the edge of the fill piece(tenth step).

The eleventh and final step of installation requires the craftsman toburnish the miter on the wall and around the cove stick cut. Finesandpaper may be utilized on the outside corners of the miter to removeany burrs caused by the recess scriber.

From the aforementioned eleven step process, it is apparent that theinstallation of sheet flooring requires a high level of specific skillfor numerous reason. First, a craftsman must apply specific knife anglesto provide elaborate cuts and resulting “hidden” seams. Further, acraftsman must create specific field cuts on templates created fromscrap material that must include accurate and precise angles. Inaddition, a craftsman must be skilled with a recess scribe and otherspecific tools to create accurate cuts and guides. It is apparent thatimproper use of these tools may result in damage to flooring materialsecured in place and ultimately in excessive repairs to installedmaterials. Finally, as each of the aforementioned cuts are performedfree hand by the craftsman, it is readily apparent to those of skill inthe art that without any protection devices, any intended movement ofthe knife during a cut could result in excessive injury to thecraftsman.

It is readily apparent that there exists a need in art to provide asingular tool or guide apparatus which allows a user to avoid theexcessive field free hand cuts. Thus, presented is a guide apparatus forassisting a craftsman perform the aforementioned cuts in forming themiter corners required for the installation of flash coving in sheetflooring applications as defined in the steps one through eleven, supra.

Referring first to FIG. 2, depicted is the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention wherein provided is miter corner guide system 200utilized in flexible sheet flooring installation. Specifically, depictedis left hand trim corner guide 202 and right hand trim corner guide 204designed as generally mirrored images to intersect at an outside mitercorner 206 (compared to inside miter corner 222, wherein alternate guidesystems can be manufactured in different dimensions as an alternateembodiment of the present invention) and each left hand trim cornerguide 202 and right hand trim corner guide 204 further providing anoutside straightedge 218 to assist to creating filler flooring piecesand other desired cuts.

In the preferred embodiment, left hand trim corner guide 202 and righthand trim corner guide 204 are manufactured as injection moldedconstruction to provide a rigid yet inexpensive form of manufacture.Left hand trim corner guide 202 and right hand trim corner guide 204 arefabricated of specific thickness to act as a sufficient guide for usewith common utility knifes utilized in the art. For example, in thepresent preferred embodiment, it has been determined that left hand trimcorner guide 202 and right hand trim corner guide 204 may bemanufactured of 0.125 inch thickness, however, it is contemplated by thepresent disclosure that various thicknesses may be utilized depending onthe thickness of flexible sheet flooring material and protruding knifedimensions. Further, inner guide portion 220 of left hand trim cornerguide 202 and right hand trim corner guide 204 are manufactured atforty-five degree angles to provide for proper knife positioning forcutting. While a forty-five degree angle is preferred, due toinconsistencies in construction, various alternative angles may be usedin the event different knife positions are desired.

Still referring to FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, left hand trim corner guide 202 and right hand trim cornerguide 204 are manufactured of polypropylene. However, in keeping withthe principles of the present invention, various rigid materials may beutilized in the construction. For example, it is contemplated by thepresent invention that various metals, such as aluminum, iron, copper,zinc, nickel and various alloys (such as steel, brass, bronze, etc.),various synthetic or semisynthetic polymerization materials (i.e.,plastics), such as (polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene,polymethyl methacrylate and other polymers, acrylics, silicones,polyurethanes, etc.), various glass fiber materials including polymersreinforced with glass fibers, or any other material or combination ofmaterials may be utilized as the medium for the creation of miter cornerguide system 200. Ideally, it is contemplated by the present disclosurethat the miter corner guide system 200 may be manufactured of anymaterial, in addition to the aforementioned material examples, which canbe formed into desired thickness, size and angle yet can act as a guideproduct to provide accurate cuts and angles by a knife apparatus andfurther can serve to protect a craftsman from errant knife movement.

Left hand trim corner guide 202 and right hand trim corner guide 204further include guide posts 214. Guide posts 214 are integral with lefthand trim corner guide 202 and right hand trim corner guide 204 andallow the user specific pressure points and grab points at or near thecurved cove forming portion of left hand trim corner guide 202 and righthand trim corner guide 204. Guide posts 214 of left hand trim cornerguide 202 and right hand trim corner guide 204 allow the user to placeleft hand trim corner guide 202 and right hand trim corner guide 204 inthe desired position and minimize movement of the guide during thecutting process. Guide posts 214 further provide protection for thehands of the user from an errant knife during cutting.

In the preferred embodiment it has been determined that left hand trimcorner guide 202 and right hand trim corner guide 204 should bemanufactured from a single piece of sturdy plastic material and iscomposed of a lower base having an underside adapted for contact with aflooring surface and an upper portion with an upper portion edge 216having a height relevant to the cap strip 212 further adapted forcontact with a wall surface. Lower base and upper portion of left handtrim corner guide 202 and right hand trim corner guide 204 areintegrated at curved cove forming portion angled to be placed in contactwith cove strip 210 to form an approximate ninety degree angle adaptedto press the flooring surface into the floor 208 and press against thewall at or about an inside or outside corner when pressure is applied bythe craftsman. Due to inconsistencies in construction, in the preferredembodiment, this angle is increased to roughly ninety-five degrees as toallow the user to apply sufficient pressure to bend the left hand trimcorner guide 202 and right hand trim corner guide 204 to the approximatewall/floor angle and securely hold guide in place.

The left edge portion 218 of left hand trim corner guide 202 isgenerally manufactured as a straight-edge while the right miter edgeportion 220 of left hand trim corner guide 202 is manufactured at aforty-five degree angle to allow for an angled miter cut at intersectionof flooring material so as to create an aligned seam when installingflash coving. Right miter edge portion of left hand trim corner guide202 is further angled to allow for proper alignment, placement, andangling of knife so that knife cuts and the desired angle to allow for aseamless integration of flooring materials.

The right hand trim corner guide 204 is manufactured of generallymirror-image dimensions so as to mate with left hand trim corner guide202. Specifically, the right portion of right hand trim corner guide 204is generally manufactured as a straight-edge while the left miter edgeportion of right hand trim corner guide 204 is manufactured at aforty-five degree angle to allow for an angled miter cut at intersectionof flooring material so as to create an aligned seam when installingflash coving. Thus, when left hand trim corner guide 202 and right handtrim corner guide 204 are aligned at respective miter edge portion, thetwo guides mate to form an outside ninety degree corner.

Turning next to FIG. 3A, depicted is a frontal perspective view of aleft trim corner guide 300 disclosed as the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention utilized in flexible sheet flooring installation. Lefthand trim corner guide 300 is composed of a lower base 306 having anunderside adapted for contact with a flooring surface and an upperportion 302 with an upper portion edge 312 having a height relevant tothe cap strip further adapted for contact with a wall surface. Upperportion 302 of left hand trim corner guide 300 further includes recess314 which may be positioned to serve as an alignment guide and isgenerally a result of forming injection molded components. The left edgeportion 310 of left hand trim corner guide 300 is generally manufacturedas a straight-edge while the right miter edge portion 318 of left handtrim corner guide 300 is manufactured at a forty-five degree angle toallow for an angled miter cut at intersection of flooring material so asto create an aligned seam when installing flash coving. Right miter edgeportion 318 of left hand trim corner guide 300 is further angled toallow for proper alignment, placement, and angling of knife so thatknife cuts are made at the desired angle to allow for a seamlessintegration of flooring materials. In the preferred embodiment,thickness 308 of left hand trim corner guide 300 is approximately 0.125inch thickness, however, it is contemplated by the present disclosurethat various thicknesses may be utilized depending on the thickness offlexible sheet flooring material and protruding knife dimensions.

Underside of lower base 306 and upper portion is comprised of agenerally smooth surface in the preferred embodiment, however, it iscontemplated that various other surfaces incorporating a light grit orharder grit substance may be utilized so as to prevent movement of theguides when pressure is applied without damaging the floor or wall.Additional materials may be adhered depending on the desired stiffnessand tactile nature of the exposed service of guide. Lower base 306 andupper portion 302 of left hand trim corner guide 300 are integrated atcurved cove forming portion 304 angled to be placed in contact with covestrip to form an approximate ninety degree angle adapted to press theflooring surface into the floor and press against the wall at or aboutan inside or outside corner when pressure is applied by the craftsman.As previously mentioned, due to inconsistencies in construction, in thepreferred embodiment, this angle is increased to roughly ninety-fivedegrees as to allow the user to apply sufficient pressure to left handtrim corner guide 300 or guide posts 316 of left hand trim corner guide300 to bend left hand trim corner guide 300 to the approximatewall/floor angle and securely hold guide in place.

FIG. 3B depicts a top perspective view of a left hand trim corner guide300 disclosed as the preferred embodiment of the present inventionutilized in flexible sheet flooring installation. Left hand trim cornerguide 300 is composed of a lower base 306 and an upper portion 302including recess 314 integrated at curved cove forming portion 304angled to be placed in contact with cove strip to form an approximateninety degree angle adapted to press the flooring surface into the floorand press against the wall at or about an inside or outside corner whenpressure is applied by the craftsman. Left hand trim corner guide 300includes guide posts 316. Guide posts 316 of left hand trim corner guide300 allow the user to place left hand trim corner guide 300 in thedesired position and minimize movement of the guide during the cuttingprocess. Left hand trim guide 300 is manufactured of generallyconsistent thickness 308. Right miter edge portion 318 of left hand trimcorner guide 300 is angled to allow for proper alignment, placement, andangling of cutting knife.

Referring to FIG. 3C, shown is a side perspective view of a left trimcorner guide 300 disclosed as the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. Left hand trim corner guide 300 is an integral device formedfrom lower base 306, upper portion 302, and curved cove forming portion304. From this perspective, the depth and dimensions of guide post 316are readily apparent. Guide posts 316 are designed to be of sufficientsize to allow a craftsman to grasp and properly position left hand trimcorner guide 300. Further, guide posts 316 are designed so that thecraftsman can apply pressure to left hand trim corner guide 300 as tocounter any slippage of left hand trim corner guide 300 that may resultfrom the pressure applied by the angled cutting knife.

Turning next to FIG. 4A, depicted is a frontal perspective view of thepreferred embodiment of the right hand trim corner guide 400 of themiter corner guide system of the present invention utilized in flexiblesheet flooring installation. Right hand trim corner guide 400 iscomposed of a lower base 406 having an underside adapted for contactwith a flooring surface, an upper portion 402 adapted for contact with awall surface, and curved cove forming portion 304 angled to be placed incontact with cove strip to form an approximate ninety degree angleadapted to press the flooring surface into the floor and press againstthe wall at or about an inside or outside corner when pressure isapplied by the craftsman. The right edge portion 410 of right hand trimcorner guide 400 is generally manufactured as a straight-edge while theleft miter edge portion 418 of right hand trim corner guide 400 ismanufactured at approximately a forty-five degree angle to allow for anangled miter cut at intersection of flooring material so as to create analigned seam when installing flash coving. Left miter edge portion 418of right hand trim corner guide 400 is further angled to allow forproper alignment, placement, and angling of knife so that a knife cutsat the desired angle to allow for a seamless integration of flooringmaterials. Right hand trim corner guide 400 is manufactured of generallymirrored-image dimensions so as to mate with left hand trim cornerguide. The angles and edges of right hand trim corner guide 400 aredesigned to correspond to allow for an angled miter cut at intersectionof flooring material so as to create an aligned seam when installingflash coving. When first left hand corner guide and second right handcorner guide at aligned at respective miter edge portion, the two guidesmate to form an outside ninety degree corner. Further, left miter edgeportion 418 of right hand trim corner guide 400 is designed to angleoutwards with the portion closest to the wall/floor having a shorterdimension than the portion furthest from the wall/floor. In contrast,miter edge portion of left hand trim corner guide (as disclosed in FIGS.3A, 3B, and 3C) is designed to angle inwards with the portion closest tothe wall/floor having a longer dimension than the portion furthest fromthe wall/floor. While this configuration is preferred, it will bereadily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variousangle configuration may be used as long as the two guides properly meetfor the desired angle.

Right hand trim corner guide 400 is further manufactured of a thickness308 which generally matches the thickness of the correspondingaforementioned left hand trim corner guide. In this preferredembodiment, thickness has been determined to be approximately 0.125inches. Similar to left hand trim corner guide disclosed in FIGS. 3A,3B, and 3C herein, underside of lower base 406, upper portion 402, andcurved cove forming portion 404 is comprised of a generally smoothsurface in the preferred embodiment, however, it is contemplated thatvarious other surfaces may be utilized.

FIG. 4B depicts a top perspective view of right hand trim corner guide400 disclosed as the preferred embodiment of the present invention.Right hand trim corner guide 400 is composed of a lower base 406 and anupper portion 402 integrated at curved cove forming portion 404 angledto be placed in contact with cove strip to form an approximate ninetydegree angle adapted to press the flooring surface into the floor andpress against the wall at or about an inside or outside corner whenpressure is applied by the craftsman. Right hand trim corner guide 400includes guide posts 416 for positing and minimizing the movement of theright hand trim corner guide 400 during the cutting process. Left miteredge portion 418 of right hand trim corner guide 400 is angled to allowfor proper alignment, placement, and angling of cutting knife.

Continuing with FIG. 4C, shown is a side perspective view of a righttrim corner guide 400 disclosed as the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. Right hand trim corner guide 400 is formed from lowerbase 406, upper portion 402, and curved cove forming portion 404.Similarly to the image of left hand trim corner guide depicted in FIG.3C, from this perspective, the depth and dimensions of guide posts 416are readily apparent. Guide posts 416 are designed to be of sufficientsize to allow a craftsman to grasp and properly position right hand trimcorner guide 400. Further, guide posts 416 are designed so that thecraftsman can apply pressure to right hand trim corner guide 400 as tocounter any slippage that may result from the pressure applied by theangled cutting knife.

The foregoing description of the embodiments have been set forth inconsiderable detail for the purpose of making a complete disclosure ofthe present invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that changes could be made to the embodiments described abovewithout departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It isunderstood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to theparticular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover allmodifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

1. A miter corner guide system for installing flash coving in sheet flooring applications comprising: a first left hand trim corner guide; and a second right trim corner guide, wherein said first left hand trim corner guide and said second right hand trim corner guide are designed as mirror-imaged forms to mate to provide for guides for accurate angled cuts.
 2. A miter corner guide system according to claim 1 wherein said first left hand trim corner guide comprises a lower base portion connected to an upper portion by a curved cove forming portion wherein said curved cove forming portion aligns said lower base portion and said upper portion at an angle similar to that of a wall and a floor.
 3. A miter corner guide system according to claim 1 wherein said first left hand trim corner guide comprises a lower base portion connected to an upper portion by a curved cove forming portion wherein said curved cove forming portion aligns said lower base portion and said upper portion at an angle similar to that of a wall and a floor.
 4. A miter corner guide system according to claim 1 wherein said first left hand trim corner guide and said second right hand trim corner guide is manufactured from a group of materials consisting of metal, synthetic polymerization material, semisynthetic polymerization material, or glass fiber material.
 5. A miter corner guide system for installing flash coving in sheet flooring applications comprising: a first left hand trim corner guide composed of a lower base portion connected to an upper portion by a curved cove forming portion wherein said curved cove forming portion aligns said lower base portion and said upper portion at an angle similar to that of a wall and a floor; and a second right trim corner guide composed of a lower base portion connected to an upper portion by a curved cove forming portion wherein said curved cove forming portion aligns said lower base portion and said upper portion at an angle similar to that of a wall and a floor. wherein said first left hand trim corner guide and said second right hand trim corner guide are designed as mirror-imaged forms to mate to provide for guides for accurate angled cuts.
 6. A miter corner guide system according to claim 5 wherein said first left hand trim corner guide and said second right hand trim corner guide is manufactured from a group of materials consisting of metal, synthetic polymerization material, semisynthetic polymerization material, or glass fiber material.
 7. A miter corner guide system according to claim 5 wherein said first left hand trim corner guide and said second right hand trim corner guide further comprise guide post members for positioning said first left hand trim corner guide and said right hand trim corner guide and further for protecting a craftsperson from an errant knife during the cutting process.
 8. A method of installing flash coving for sheet flooring comprising the steps of: preparing the floor surface to remove debris and create a generally flat surface; cutting sheet flooring in general dimensions to desired flooring area; placing said sheet flooring in the desired flooring area and generally adhering said sheet flooring to said floor surface; adhering inside miter corners with said sheet flooring; adhering outside miter corners with said sheet flooring wherein said outside miter corners are cut using a knife and a miter corner guide system using a first left hand trim corner guide and a second right hand trim guide; and welding the seams of said sheet flooring.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said first left hand trim corner guide and said second right hand trim corner guide is manufactured from a group of materials consisting of metal, synthetic polymerization material, semisynthetic polymerization material, or glass fiber material. 